Paralyzed woman charged after son, 4, dies in fire

April 20, 2010

Almost two weeks after a 4-year-old boy died in a Joliet fire, his paralyzed mother was charged with child endangerment after allegedly leaving him alone in their two-bedroom apartment.

Tiana "Tina" Wallace's only son, Omariya Dishman, died in the April 7 fire that started in their apartment at the Evergreen Terrace housing complex around 11:30 p.m. Neighbors said they heard the boy say "Tina's still in here," when they pounded on his door and begged him to unlock it.

When a resident kicked down the apartment door, heavy smoke prevented them from entering. Another neighbor said she heard Omariya call out, "Mommy, Mommy."

An autopsy concluded that he died of smoke inhalation.

Wallace's friends reacted to the charges with disbelief.

"She shouldn't be (charged); her child was always with her," said Dejarea Howard, who said she did not know where Wallace was that night. "I feel like that is uncalled for."

Police still were looking for Wallace on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office. A felony arrest warrant with $175,000 bond was issued for her Monday. Messages left for Joliet police and fire officials were not returned.

Some residents have said they saw her in the hallway around the time of the fire. Officials have said they were trying to determine if Wallace was at another unit in the building at 316 N. Bluff St.

Wallace was shot in the back as a teenager and was left paralyzed from the waist down.